Blizzard Encourages Hearthstone Meetups With Special Card Back

Blizzard's collectible card game Hearthstone got its big iPad release last week, exposing the game to an even wider audience. To mark the occassion, Blizzard is giving players an incentive to meet up in person and play the game. In addition to learning more about the game (and potentially making a new friend or two), players can also earn a special in-game card back for their decks.

The mini events, which Blizzard is calling Fireside Gatherings, are fan-created meetups. Players are encouraged to bring their iPads and laptops to public spaces to trade strategies and gloat about their collections with other Hearthstone players. Visit the official site to see if there are any in your area, or to learn more about hosting one of your own (you could even do this in your own home). If you attend one of these events, you can earn the special Fireside Friends card back.

The card back (above) will be available starting April 26. Blizzard isn't saying how long the promotion will last, so if you like what you see you may want to act sooner than later.

Our TakeI've been playing a lot of the game lately, and it's a blast. I wonder how the dynamic would change playing face to face without the relative anonymity that playing online provides, though. The rage quits would be more entertaining, but I don't know if a card back is worth running the risk of having a chair thrown at my head.